Chippewa Casino May Link With Schaumburg Convention Center

November 22, 1992|By Michael A. Lev.

Pushing for wider support of their project, developers of a proposed Indian casino in Rolling Meadows say they will consider contributing money to help get the long-discussed Schaumburg convention center built.

Roy Palmer, who heads the management company that would run the St. Croix Chippewa casino, said he plans to meet this week with local officials supporting the convention center project to discuss linking the center and the casino. No dollar amounts have been discussed.

``The issue is new to us, but it`s a wonderful idea,`` Palmer said.

``We`re not familiar with the economics, but we`re definitely going to look at it.``

He said he had several meetings planned this week with officials of the five communities that belong to the Illinois International Convention Center Authority, which would build and operate the Schaumburg convention center. The communities are Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows, Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates and Palatine.

Support in the northwest suburbs for the convention center has been strong, but the project has not gotten off the ground because the state balked at financing part of the proposed $60 million center. In addition to seeking state support, the five authority members have pledged to levy special hotel taxes to build and operate the center. Schaumburg would give additional money. Rolling Meadows officials who support the casino envision that the gaming hall would attract many more tourists and businesss travelers to the area and they would like to link the casino to as many other projects as possible. Palmer said there is talk of building a tram system to connect a casino, a convention center, Woodfield Mall and Arlington International Racecourse.

``We`re looking at all the different tourism-type facilities that exist in this golden corridor and are seeing what we can do to work with all the others to benefit the area in general,`` said Rolling Meadows Mayor Carl Couve.

It was not clear whether the casino will be built. Earlier this month, the Rolling Meadows City Council approved the project over the opposition of many residents.

In a non-binding referendum on Election Day, the idea was defeated 55 percent to 45 percent.

Approval of the casino ultimately rests with the federal government, which has jurisdiction over Indian affairs, but Gov. Jim Edgar must be consulted, and he opposes the casino.

The Chippewa tribe, which is based in northern Wisconsin, is pursuing its casino project under federal Indian law that grants a great deal of autonomy to tribes.

On Friday, the convention center authority held a closed-door meeting about land acquisitions, and afterward authority members declined to say whether the casino was discussed.